Giant Hornets in SOMD

Lennyo3034 · May 27, 2015

Has anybody seen these? I've seen what I believe are these in two separate places in Southern Maryland now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet

Apparently their stings are quite powerful and are known to kill humans. I'm more concerned about our honeybees as they attack beehives.

AssMan · May 27, 2015

Perhaps you saw Cicada Killers?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphecius_speciosus

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JasonB · May 27, 2015

We have some that look like that in the summer. They come flying out of the woods toward sour back light and are pretty loud when they fly into the aluminum siding.

guthook · May 27, 2015

Do a search on "cicada killer". This topic comes up once a year or so.

Lennyo3034 · May 28, 2015

Most likely cicada killers as they were not aggressive. They just didn't have the right color when I saw them. Here is a picture I took at night. Difficult to make out.

traveller · May 28, 2015

Holy crap!

They may have a surge in population with last years cicada brood. It looks like they lay their eggs into dead cicadas and use them as a way to feed their offspring once they hatch.

They seem to be worthwhile to keep around the house. I may just buy a couple tons of sand to build a habitat for them.

Arcamm · May 28, 2015

I just found one in the house. Look them up. The males don't sting, only the females and pretty you much have to stand on them to get them to do it. Scary as all fu*k when they land on your shoulder.

SKIP · May 28, 2015

traveller said:
Holy crap!

They may have a surge in population with last years cicada brood. It looks like they lay their eggs into dead cicadas and use them as a way to feed their offspring once they hatch.

They seem to be worthwhile to keep around the house. I may just buy a couple tons of sand to build a habitat for them.

They paralyze the cicada.

E.Shell · May 28, 2015

Arcamm said:
... The males don't sting.....

As with most ant and wasp species, the males are rarely produced and have a special purpose (ref: Steve Martin).

...only the females and pretty you much have to stand on them to get them to do it.

The workers we see are almost all females, so it would be wise to assume any you see will carry a stinger.

Scary as all fu*k when they land on your shoulder.

Yes.

These are probably European Hornets, although the larger Asian Hornet may be found here now as well. Do a search for images on each for a positive ID.

quattroginger · May 28, 2015

DUDE!!!!!!!!! i have been battling these things since i bought my house in Hughesville 4 years ago. they are no joke and very aggressive. they come out when it starts cooling down at night. they are attracted to my outside lights. very loud when hitting my siding. i have been through 30 bottles of hornet spray. they come in my garage when i open door in mornings to leave for work, they get in my house sometimes. it sucks.

vinjet700 · May 28, 2015

my wife was freaking out after seeing a show on these, on NATGEO last night....

Lennyo3034 · May 28, 2015

quattroginger said:
DUDE!!!!!!!!! i have been battling these things since i bought my house in Hughesville 4 years ago. they are no joke and very aggressive. they come out when it starts cooling down at night. they are attracted to my outside lights. very loud when hitting my siding. i have been through 30 bottles of hornet spray. they come in my garage when i open door in mornings to leave for work, they get in my house sometimes. it sucks.

This has been my experience as well. However, based on my understanding of Asian giant hornets, we would have been stung already if that's what they were.

AssMan · May 28, 2015

Lennyo3034 said:
This has been my experience as well. However, based on my understanding of Asian giant hornets, we would have been stung already if that's what they were.

Tennis rackets work well. Bored in the summer as a kid, I used to stand over the holes in the ground and swat them. I didn't realize how (mostly) harmless they were. I was concerned they might attack our family dog at the time.

Arcamm · May 28, 2015

Converting your household lights to leds will help.

jimbobborg · May 28, 2015

Leave a bug zapper light out if it's that big of a concern for you. BTW, if you find a ground nest of Yellow Jackets, put a bug zapper near the nest well after dark, get as far away as you can from it, then plug in the bug zapper. The whole nest will come out to attack the intruder and kill themselves on it.

slowpoke · May 28, 2015

jimbobborg said:
Leave a bug zapper light out if it's that big of a concern for you. BTW, if you find a ground nest of Yellow Jackets, put a bug zapper near the nest well after dark, get as far away as you can from it, then plug in the bug zapper. The whole nest will come out to attack the intruder and kill themselves on it.

I will try this next time I find a yellow jacket nest.

J-Dog · May 28, 2015

Probably Euro Hornets. They look like the Asian Hornets, but are way way less aggressive.
If they were Asians, you'd know. Not even Godzilla wants to mess with those.

bigdv · May 28, 2015

I have them around my house. Killer bees~!!!!!!!

Chris0nllyn · May 28, 2015

European Hornets.

They typically build massive hives inside of dead trees. We had a hive so big it eventually killed half the tree.

Alan3413 · May 28, 2015

Did you get stung playing around with that monster and if so, how much of your arm did they have to amputate?

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